Switch or the like



J1me 1953 T. Y. KORSGREN, JR 2,339,629

SWITCH OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15,- 1956 FIG. I

FIG. 2

U ited SK ES Z EfifO,"

I 2,s39, 29 SWITCH OR THE LIKE, Theodore Y; Korsgren, Jr. W odbury,IConn., assignor to Haydon Switch, Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut p ,ApplicationNovember15,1956, Serial No. 622,455 I Claims. crew-67) The presentinvention relates to electrical switchesiand similar devices, and has particular reference to improved featuresof c0nstructi0n f0r incorporation in small snap and assembly thereof.

.-.A common type of smallsize snap-actingswitchycomprises a casing in which are rigidly mounted a pairof spaced contact members. Between the fixed contactme'mbers; is, a movable contact; which may be pressedagainst either of .the fixed contacts to alternatelygclose one of rcuitsthrough the switch. -The movablecontacttis manipulated by means ofjan actuating member; anchored at' iene end in the casingand having itsgothenend connected to themovable contactthrough'a toggle velement. Broadly, this structure is;well known, aud,,-t e Presentinventionisfdirect'ed to certain specific improvements there? switches and like mechanisms to simplify the manufacture in} particularly inrespect to the anchoring of the actuat:

;or.;disp la ced.. a. m V ionfincludespan ,actuating member -of novel and improved designs In this-respechthe actuating member of 'the fnewswitch may be formedof a length of convening de sir ed resilierit :ha1'acteristics. 3

j ljior a betterunderstanding of vthe invention, reference should b made to flie following detailed description and ig. l'is a'longitudinal cross-sectional assembly incorporating, the improvedv features of the invention; 1

H Fig, 2 is an lenlargedlfragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

thatof Fig. 2 with certainparts removed; and v Fig. dis a, longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to ig.' 1,',showing themjanner imwhich an actuating member is assembled with the switchcasing. @Referringnow to .thedrawing, the numeral 10designates generally a switch casing part of 'generally rectangular outline. The casing part 10 conventionally-forms "the center section ofthe complete casing, with suitable cover plates(not-shown)xbeing secured to the opposite facs of the central' partial-n accordance'withconventional switch construction, .a pair ofvfixed contact supports 11, 12am rigidly mounted inthe casing 10and project into an enlargedIopening or window .13 therein. The supports 11, 12 aremounted in spacedrelation and carryinwardly facing contacts 14, 15 at'their outer'ends. 1 t

Rigidly mounted at onelend in the casing 10, and-'ex+ tending into the enlarged opening 13, is a flexible contact support 16. The movable support 16 is lockedjbetween the fixed supports 11, .12'and mountssuit'able contacts 14', 15 adjacent its. free end. As will'beapparent in Fig. l, .-the movable contact support 16 may bei flexed toward the fixed supports 11,: 12, closing one or'the'other of the sets'of 'contactsto co'mplete circuits through the switch. T i 1; v:-

Formoving the contact support 16 between the-fixed supports 11, 12, an actuating member. 17 'is' provided which is anchored atone end, in.a manner to be described detail, andhasan L-shaped iouter portion extending do'wnwardlyin the enlargedopening 13 'and having 'atip movable downwardlyth'erein by: means of an actuatingv plunger 20 .slidably received in the casing 10. *Thearf ra'ngemen't is suchsthatxwith theparts ofithe switch in theirnormal pjos'itions-the outer legjportion 17': ofrthe actuating .member exerts a force through the 'toggle':el=

ment. 19 to hold the.mov'ablei:contact' support 16 downwardly-and ,maintain'the contacts '15, 15' in engagement Q 'When-the plunger ztl is'zdepressed the actuating: member er advantageous feature, the device of the desired shap e andgwhich provides an anchor ;portion.hav-

view of a switch Fig. 3-is an enlarged cross-sectional view similarto w la'routline of the anchor to form a tab 23;: l

no i sprmgwrre, whrehmaybe readrly bent into the is urgedldownwardly toa pointwhere the tip -18 thereof isnbelow theend of the, movable contact member $16; This causesTthe' toggle element. 19' to over-center: and snap the; movable contact su'pport-16 upwardly,bringiiig the contacts 14,i14" into engagement.- Uponmeleaseof the plunger 20 the-upwardbias-on'the actuating member 16. causes it to return-to its normalfposition,as'sshownin Fig. :1 T p F M i ti. I'T?" ii. In accordance :With the'invention, the actuating member 17 may be formed of 'a length'of" resilient Wire,' though' it is of; coursecontemplated that other forms ofrnaterial may beernployed, for example-flat springimetahstflp material (substantially rectangular in cross section). :The outeror' free end portion of the wire-is bent :in thelform o'fzan L, and is so designed that thedepending 1e'g"17:'; is flexed-putwardly-by.the" toggle element 19. 'fThe re-' silient nature of the 'wire; material thereby cause's'na'n inwardzforcerto -.be-,-maintained upon the toggle element for holding the movable contact 16 in one or the other ofuitssoperative positions. The'horizontal'or lon'gleg portion of the actuatingmembe'r vmay be'strengthe'ned by an elongated reinforcing member 21, which'f may-be'of U-shaped cross-section; Also in-accordance with the invention,; the actuating -member f17iS provided "with an anchor-portion 22 at its left hand; The anchor portion 22" isprjovided bending-the end of the wire actuating mern her in the form of an incomplete circle and bending the end extremity of the. wire inwardly of. the generally citcu-j I Formounting the anchor portion 22 in the casing 10, the. latter is provided with a generally circular opening 24' 'extending transversely throughthe casing, from one side to the other mere r j In accordance withlthe inyen.-.

- tion;-'th'e opening '24- isprovided witha first pluralityof circumferentially spaced integral bosses 25 which project radially inward from the wall of the opening and form spaced abutment surfaces 25a in the central portion of the opening. The bosses 25 are uniformly spaced about the opening, and the abutment surfaces 25a thereof define an internal shoulder. In the illustrated form of the invention, the'abutment surfaces 25a are disposed at a slight angle to the wall in the opening 24. Opposite the first plurality of bosses 25 is a second plurality of similar bosses 26 which are spaced circumferentially about the wall of the opening 24 and are so arranged with respect to the bosses 25 that the bosses of one plurality are aligned and coextensive with the spaces between the bosses ofthe other plurality. The arrange ment is such that in the molding of the casing the abutment'surfaces a, 26a of the respective bosses 25, 26 are formed by the mold parts which form the spaces between bosses of the opposite plurality thereof. Thus, a conventional two part mold may be employed to form a pair of inwardly facing shoulders Within a circular opening, it being understood in this respect that the formation of such shoulders in accordance with conventional construction practices would require expensive collapsible mold parts. With the improved structure, however, a pair of male mold parts projecting from opposite sides of a conventional two part mold may be used in forming the opening 24 and its bosses 25, 26, and these mold parts may be simply withdrawn axially at the end of the molding operation to free the molded part.

-Connecting the circular opening 24 and the enlarged opening 13, in the casing 10, is a recess 27 for receiving the shank of the actuating member 17. The recess 27 opens at one side of the casing 10 and has a depth somewhat greater than half the thickness thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the recess 27 is flared out adjacent the enlarged opening 13, as at 27a, and has a rounded shoulder 27b adjacent the smaller circular opening 24.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the diameter of the opening 24,

between the opposed abutment surfaces 25a, 26a, is approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular anchor portion 22'of the'actuating member 17. Of course, the outer portions of the opening 24 are substantially constricted by the bosses 25, 26. Accordingly, to insert the actuating member 17 into the casing, the anchor portion 22 of the actuating member is deformed to a-'reduced diameter, to an extent such that the. anchor'portion may be inserted axially through the constricted portion of the opening 24. When the circular anchor portion is aligned with the groove defined by the abutment surfaces 25a, 26a it is permitted to return to its normal size, so that the anchor portion is :locked in the groove, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 1 In order to deform the anchor portion 22 to a reduced. diameter, in the manner desired, the inwardly projecting tab portion 23 thereof may be gripped'with pliers or other suitable instruments and rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 4. As will be readily understood, this operation may be carried out quickly. and efliciently, and facilitates assembly of the switches. Moreover, the assembly procedure is ideally suited to be carried out with automatic machinery, whereever desirable.

.The invention provides an improved structure for snap-acting switches and similardevices which incorporatenovel arrangements for anchoring a movable member in a casing or other component. The anchor means in the casing comprises an essentially circular opening formed by a two part mold of a generally conventional type with a plurality of integral bosses spaced circumferentially about the wall of the opening and aligned with a second plurality of bosses in such manner that the bosses of one plurality are aligned and coextensive withthe spaces between bosses of theother plurality. This novel, structure is such that a mold part entering .4. the opening from one side forms an abutment surface at the end of a boss otherwise formed by a mold part entering from the opposite side of the opening. With this construction a discontinuous groove is formed within the opening which is adapted to receive and securely retain a generally circular anchor portion of a movable actuating member.

Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the structure of the actuating member itself. In this respect, the actuating member is formed of a length of wire bent to provide a generally circular anchor portion at one end, to be received and retained by the groove in the anchor opening, and having an inwardly bent tab portion which may be gripped to deform the anchor portion to a reduced diameter for axial insertion in the opening.

It will be understood that the specific device herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the described structure may be useful in assemblies other than switches. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Ina switch of the type havinga casing, a pair of fixed contacts mounted in said casing and disposed in spaced relation, a movable spring contact element mounted at one end in said casing and extending between said fixed contacts, a spring-like actuating member mounted in said casing and having a tip portion spaced outwardly of said spring contact element, and a toggle element interconnecting said spring contact and actuating member; the improvement in said casing and actuating member characterized by said casing having a generally circular transverse opening therein extending from one side to the other of said casing, a first plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bosses projecting radially inward from the wall of said opening and forming a first plurality of spaced abutment surfaces, said abutment surfaces defining an internal shoulder within said opening, a second plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bosses projecting radially inward from said wall and forming a second plurality of spaced abutment surfaces, said second plurality of abutment surfaces defining a second internal shoulder spaced from and facing said first shoulder,=said bosses being so arranged that the bosses of one plurality thereof are aligned with the spaces between the bosses of the other pluralitythereof, said actuating member having a generally circular anchor portion formed of resilient material and having a normal diameter greater than the diameter of the reduced opening defined by said bosses, said anchor portion being deformable to a reduced diameter for insertion axially into said opening and being of a width to be received between said shoulders, said casing having a recess therein connecting said opening and adapted to receive said actuating member upon insertion of saidanchor portion into said opening.

2. The switch of claim 1, characterized by said bosses extending longitudinally of said opening from the outer ends thereof to points adjacent the central portion thereof.

3. The switch of claim 1, characterized by said actuating member being formed of wire and having an integral generally circular end forming said anchor portion.

4. The switch of claim 3, characterized by said abutment surfaces being disposed at angles to the wall of said opening, the arrangement being such that oppositely facing abutmentsurfaces define a circular recess of V-shaped cross-section. p

5. :The switch of claim 1, characterized by said anchor portion having a tab projecting inwardly of its generally circular outline, said ltabv being adapted to be gripped and rotated to reduce the diameter of said anchor portion for insertion thereof in said opening.

6. In a switch of the type having a casing, switch contact means, and a switch actuating member anchored in said casing and movable therein to effect opening and closing of said contact means; the improvement characterized by said casing having a generally circular transverse opening therein extending from one side to the other of said casing, a first plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bosses projecting radially inward from the wall of said opening and forming a first plurality of. spaced abutment surfaces defining an internal shoulder within said opening, a second plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bosses projecting radially inward from said wall and forming a second plurality of spaced abutment surfaces, said second plurality of abutment surfaces defining a second internal shoulder spaced from and facing said first shoulder, said bosses being so arranged that the bosses of one plurality thereof are aligned with the spaces between the bosses of the other plurality thereof, said actuating member having a generally circular anchor portion formed of resilient material and having a normal diameter greater than the diameter of the reduced opening defined by said bosses, said anchor portion being deformable to a reduced diameter for insertion axially into said opening and being of a width to be received between said shoulders.

7. In a switch of the type having a casing, switch contact means, and a switch actuating member anchored in said casing and movable therein to elfect opening and closing of said contact means; the improvement characterized by said casing having a generally circular opening therein and means forming spaced facing shoulders in said opening, said switch actuating member having a generally circular anchor portion formed of resilient material and having a normal diameter greater than the diameter of said shoulders and a width to be received between said shoulders, said anchor portion being deformable to a reduced diameter for insertion axially into said opening.

8. The switch of claim 7, characterized by said actuating member being formed at least in part by a length of wire, said anchor portion comprising an end of said length of Wire bent into generally circular form.

9. The switch of claim 8, characterized by said anchor portion including a tab projecting inwardly of its generally circular outline, said tab being adapted to be gripped and rotated to reduce the diameter of said anchor portion.

10. In a device comprising a molded anchoring memer and :1 resilient member secured in said anchoring member; the improvement characterized by said anchoring member having a transverse opening therein extending from one side to the other of'said anchoring member, a first plurality of spaced integral bosses projecting inwardly from the wall of said opening and forming a first plurality of spaced abutment surfaces defining an internal shoulder within said opening, a second plurality of spaced integral bosses projecting inwardly from the wall of said opening and forming a second plurality of spaced abutment surfaces, said second plurality of abutment surfaces defining a second internal shoulder spaced from and facing said first shoulder, said bosses being so arranged that the bosses of one plurality thereof are aligned with the spaces between the bosses of the other plurality thereof, said resilient member having an anchor portion at one end formed of resilient material and shaped to substantially conform to said opening, said anchor portion being deformable to a reduced size for axial insertion in said opening and being of a width to be received between said shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis May 29, 

